ABSTRACT

Perrotta explores and charts the changing place of consumption as a source of investment in production and growth within economic writings from ancient history to the present. This ambitious project is carried out with great skill, vigour and originality and will help to bring consumption studies into the mainstream of economic thought.

chapter 1|7 pages

Introduction

The legacy of the past

chapter 2|29 pages

The Ancients and inner wealth*

chapter |1 pages

Conclusions

chapter 3|8 pages

Patristics

End of the contempt for wealth and labour

chapter 4|6 pages

Medieval dualism

Poverty as an ideal; wealth as a practical goal

chapter |12 pages

Pauperism, dualism, autonomy

chapter |12 pages

Economic dualism of the Franciscans

chapter 6|11 pages

From alms to human capital: the poor in sixteenth century Spain and England

The poor in sixteenth-century Spain and England*

chapter |11 pages

Other failed attempts in Spain

chapter |3 pages

A system of ‘productive assistance’

chapter 7|19 pages

Spain’s unproductive consumption*

chapter |2 pages

Conclusions

chapter 8|5 pages

Expanding production

A (fearful) hunger for goods

chapter |3 pages

Chrysohedonism or fear of goods?

chapter |13 pages

Labour and wealth-getting

chapter 9|14 pages

Productive and unproductive labour*

chapter 10|17 pages

Foreign trade

Fostering productive consumption/ productive labour*

chapter |2 pages

Conclusions

chapter 11|21 pages

The Enlightenment theory of development

Consumption as an investment*

chapter |47 pages

Notes

chapter |25 pages

References

chapter 7|26 pages

Spain’s unproductive consumption